Sidney W. Degan III

Bryan Reuter concentrates his practice in complex commercial and intellectual-property litigation, including their appeals. Mr. Reuter received his undergraduate degree, a Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering, from Tulane University, where he earned the Leon Scherck Award for the highest cumulative average in the School of Engineering. After graduation he undertook various positions with Shell Oil and Shell Chemical Companies, including Operations Manager, for several petroch...

As part of the Mouledoux, Bland, Legrand & Brackett’s “wheels team,” Member Gerard J. Dragna focuses his practice on transportation, trucking and automobile defense and litigation. He has represented Fortune 500 companies, motor carriers, trucking and transportation companies and their insurers in legal matters throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. As supported by the peer honors he has received, including Louisiana Super Lawyers and New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers, Ger...

Melissa Lessell partners with her clients faced with professional liability and complex commercial litigation matters. She helps professionals navigate through disciplinary actions, ethics investigations, malpractice, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims and lawsuits. Forming partnerships with her clients, Melissa Lessell tirelessly defends them in professional liability and complex commercial litigation matters. She helps professionals navigate through disciplinary actions, license...

Johanna Lambert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Johanna, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Johanna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lele Hainkel is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses on energy litigation. Lele has extensive experience handling offshore and onshore energy-related disputes in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration. Her oil and gas litigation practice covers defense of claims against the oil and gas industry asserting liability for coastal erosion, legacy suit property restoration claims, disputes related to Outer Continental Shelf decommissioning liability, preferential rig...

Member Alan G. Brackett, who is one of the firm founders, leads the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act defense team, which also handles claims arising under the Defense Base Act and War Hazards Compensation Act. Alan litigates claims nationwide for large corporations and insurance companies, including Chubb and American Longshore Mutual Association. As supported by the many peer honors he has received, including The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers, Alan has develop...

Rodger focuses on maritime and oilfield transactions and litigation. This includes insurance coverage, marine finance and vessel documentation, litigation, corporate and commercial law, and international transaction primarily in Latin America. Rodger was born in Durham, North Carolina. His educational background includes: Phillips Academy (Andover), 1968; an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, 1972; a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University, 1977; and a Juris Do...

Robert W. Rachal is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law - Management and Litigation - ERISA. Robert W., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark A. Cunningham is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and co-team leader of the corporate compliance and white collar defense team. Mark provides strategic advice to clients on competition and trade issues related to the structuring of national and global distribution networks, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and intellectual property protection. Mark also serves as first-chair trial counsel for companies and individuals under law enforcement scrutiny or facing bet-the-co...

Bill Hines is managing partner of Jones Walker and a member of the Corporate Practice Group. Passionate about economic and cultural development in New Orleans, across Louisiana, and throughout the Gulf South, Bill has been a legal, business, and civic leader for more than 35 years. Since 2006, he has led Jones Walker through a period of significant growth. During this time, the firm’s client base has expanded to include leading regional, national, and international corporations, banks a...